BASIC STEPS AND LINKS TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID
STEP 1: Gather important documents (Federal Tax Return form 1040, W2s, bank statements, etc.), student and parent social security numbers, and alien registration # (if applicable)
STEP 2: Get your FSA IDs (one for a parent, and one for the student):
https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch
STEP 3: Complete the 2022-2023 FAFSA and make sure to complete IRS Data Retrieval within, if eligible:
https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
https://studentaid.gov/articles/steps-to-fafsa-form/
STEP 4: Apply for New York State’s TAP by following on screen prompts upon FAFSA completion or visiting : https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/apply-for-financial-aid/nys-tap/apply-for-tap.html
STEP 5: Complete Collegeboard’s 2022-2023 CSS Profile (only if applicable) at www.collegeboard.org. View which colleges require the CSS and the family guide here:
https://profile.collegeboard.org/profile/ppi/participatinginstitutions.aspx
https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/getting-started-your-css-profile-application
STEP 6: Review (and correct, if needed) FAFSA Student Aid Report, which is normally available online within several days after you submit your FAFSA
STEP 7: If applicable, complete any required institutional financial aid forms (Princeton, UPenn, etc.)
STEP 8: Upload tax information for CSS Profile colleges via IDOC or the method articulated by the colleges to which you're applying if requested. Always check your email and college portals.
STEP 9: Once you know where you are going to college (that may well not be until May, and that's fine), log in to your account at www.hesc.ny.gov and make sure that your TAP application reflects the school that you will attend in the fall (NY State only). You may also use this site to apply for the New York State Excelsior Scholarship in the spring/summer if the program remains intact
NEED HANDS-ON HELP COMPLETING YOUR FAFSA? Attend a free FAFSA completion workshop offered by HESC (NY State):
https://startheregetthere.ny.gov/events
*original post 12/2/2021
